28 The (English) Beat

It was just a few posts ago that I discussed bands that had to change their names in the US, and here we are discussing The English Beat, which is just The Beat in the UK. Australia know them as The British Beat and as much as I love alliteration, I like ours better. Maybe for this write-up, I’ll stick with their original name. 

Several of their songs are well known 80s standards, such as “Mirror in the Bathroom,” and “Save it for Later” is in that category. So, yeah, odds are you know this song. But let’s talk abut the importance of The Beat. They were one of the earlier representatives of 2nd wave ska or two-tone along with The Specials. Later, members of the two would form a band known as The Special Beat. So cute! 

2nd wave ska was when musician in the UK started to take the sounds and styling of original Jamaican ska and combined that with other styles of rock and pop. A main theme of 2nd wave ska was anti-racism, not just with the blending of musical styles but with the musicians playing the music. Given the economic and social turmoils the existed during the Thatcher years in the UK, the music also focused on addressing these ills. This song isn’t really one of those. 

Supposedly, this was written before the Beat was even a band but sometime those early songs just have the right, “I-don’t-know-what-I’m-doing-let’s -just-do-what-I-think-is-fun-and-sounds-cool” feel. The Pixies “Here Comes Your Man” is another one of these type of songs. Simple, catchy, and a good representation of the less serious side of 2nd wave.